Meta-analysis of avian behavioural responses to aircraft noise

Abstract

Natural environments are now seriously affected by human-made noise, creating complex acoustic circumstances that are unheard of in most locations. Expansion of aero industry and increase in air traffic whether civilian or military is accompanied by large scale noise pollution and habitat disturbances. The present communication is based on meta-analysis of 47 research papers highlighting impact of aircraft noise on avian behavior and communication related to both routine and breeding activities. Aircraft acoustics have been reported to modify behavior of 22 species of birds by changing their specific song structure, communication, population abundance, territorial defence behavior, modifications to reproductive success, impaired vocalization and predator-prey interactions. Recent studies have also uncovered additional negative effects of aeroplane noise on avian behavioral responses by modifying their stress reactions, foraging activity, flight or flushing reactions and avoidance of noisy environments. The ability of bird species to counteract the masking effect of noise through changes in vocal amplitude, song and call frequency, song component redundancy, as well as temporal shifts to avoid noise have been revealed by comparative avian studies conducted in noise free environment. There seems to be a big lacuna in our understanding of influence of aircraft noise on avian community structure, intra/inter species relationships and their prey populations having possibilities of destabilizing effect on intertwined food webs. Detailed studies are required on aircraft noise versus avian population interactions so as to come up with interventions to mitigate their impacts on avian habitats, breeding potential and population abundance; in addition to reduction in noise levels in aviation, maneuvers to reduce noise during landings and take-offs, and to safeguard wildlife in airport influenced areas.